Titanic

New Years is one of my favorite holidays. 

"I still think Thanksgiving is tops, but New Years runs a really close second with me."  I tell SM.

"Why is that do you think?"  SM quizzes me.

"Well...Maybe it's because it's Day One.  A fresh start.  A clean slate!  What do you guys say in golf?  It's a mulligan?  A do-over!" 

I preach on finding my stride.

"Look at it this way...Every year you get 365 days to screw things up.  But by the time the New Year starts, you've rolled the ticker back to 1 again.  Anything is possible!"

I pause, thinking of a better way to explain it.

"It's kinda like the movie Titanic."  I say.

"Titanic?"  SM asks clearly confused.

"Yeah, you know...On New Years Day you're like Leonardo DiCaprio on the Titanic."





"You're the King of the World.  On top of your game.  You can see where you want to go, dream of what you want to be.  You can touch the sky if you want to cause anything is possible!"

"But only for that one moment.  Cause sure enough life is gonna get in the way and someone's gonna toss an iceberg in your path."

"Boom!  Then whatcha gonna do?  Sink or swim?" 

SM just looks at me, rubs his face with his hands and walks away.

I tell you it's exhausting hanging out with me!  Aren't you glad you just come to visit every now and then?

Happy New Year Everyone!  See ya in 2013!

Laughing My Way Into 2013

It's that time of the year to reminisce about the year that was. 

But since my stem cells are dying at an accelerated rate (Thank You, Menopause), I decided not to trust the grey matter between my ears but to write this "wrap up post" by tip-toeing through all my blog posts for the year.  

I have to say, it was a lot of fun and a really good reminder of this past years events.  So I've complied some of 2012's highlights below.  Enjoy!

All Creatures Great and Small

It's a dog eat dog world out there, but I like to think that I'm the Queen-Bee of this castle.  You jump when I say "Jump."  Sadly this just isn't the case.  You can read all about how well trained I am in Who Needs An Alarm Clock?

You'd think that in a house with 3 dogs, one little cat would be at the bottom of the pile around here.  Soft Kitty? Yeah, Right ! Our first and only cat to date, Kiki was the boss around here.  Rest In Peace, Little Wee.

Chuck Versus Charlie

This year we found a helping hand in the garden and around the house.  SM and I met a fellow with a bit of a split personality.  Meet Charlie in the post Hello Charlie. 

You can read more about the "Chuckster" in Chuck Gets A Makeover.

Southern Exposure

Have you every wondered how a Southerner delivers a back-handed compliment?  Learn it straight from Miss Susan in You Stupid Idiot. 

You can also read about my observations on the difference between Yankees and Southerners in Twinkie. (Which also happens to be my Number One viewed post of this year!)

2012 - Year of The Spider

They say that 2013 is the Year of the Dragon.  If that's true then I'm doomed. 

You see this past year could have been labeled the year of the spider at my house.  Freakin spiders everywhere! Not only did I get 16 sider bites one day (A Nice Sweet Meat) working in the garden but I was also assaulted in my own home by a spider in SM - Spider Wrangler.

Can't We All Just Get Along?

You want an insight into a marriage?  What it takes for a guy and a girl to get along?  Just read these posts below and you'll either walk away inspired or horrified.  In either case, I'll bet you'll laugh!

F-Bomb In Disguise

Owners Manual

Don't Stop Till You Get Enough

Sweet Cheeks

We're Doomed I Tell Ya!

What's Your Secret?

And Finally - My Favorite Photo Post From 2012

What's not to love?  Flowers in January and the dogs who love them in Flower Child. 

Here's hoping some flowers bloom in your world this January. 

Happy New Year - 2013!

The Sunshine Plan

There's a reason why I don't like to take time off around Christmas.  The days are short, the weather unpredictable and while I do try to find projects to complete around the house...Well, there's only so much cleaning and organizing a girl wants to do.

Let's face it.  I'm about as much of a slug as the next person.  I've taken more naps, dicked around on the computer and watched more TV than is healthy for a human being.

So I was pleased as punch to see an actually sunny day after all the wind, rain and general "grayness" we've had this past week.

Anyway, SM and I were driving around running errands and I'm admiring the bright blue winter sky as we go up and down some of the rolling hills we have here in the Piedmont.

"You know, I knew it immediately."  I told SM. 

"Knew what?"  SM asked.

"That this was home."  I replied.  "I never felt this way about Virginia Beach."  (We'd lived there for 4 years right after we'd gotten married.)

"I didn't mind Virginia Beach."  SM replied. 

"Never felt right to me.  Not like Ohio, either."  I pointed out.

"So we're never moving back?"  SM asked.

"I don't think so.  Been there done that.  This is home."  I said.  "You realize that next Summer (2013) makes our 15th year here?  We're practically natives!"

SM laughs.  "I don't think anyone would consider us natives.  What about the twang?"  He asked.

"Well, we've been absorbed into the culture at the very least and Hey...I can twang with the best of them!"  I said proudly.

"So no heading back to Ohio, huh?  Were else could you see us living?"  SM inquires.

"I could see us in Texas for sure.  Maybe the Austin area.  And do you remember when we stopped in Grand Junction Colorado?  That had the "It" factor for sure."   I paused remembering. 

"Of course if we really become allergic to the cold, we might try New Mexico or Arizona.  But yeah, I think I've got to have the blue skies from here on out.  I'm on the Sunshine plan."  I grin at SM.

"And I suppose having 50 degrees during the middle of Winter isn't the worst way to survive the dark days."  I point out.

"Well, you do know that this past week was the worst of it don't you?"  SM asks.  "We're starting to gain daylight from here on out."

When we got home, SM pulled up the sunrise/sunset times on the computer and showed me that we've started to gain 2 minutes of sunshine everyday.

Whoo Hoo!  A whole 2 minutes! 

But I'll take it!  2+2=4 and before you know it we're back in the light. 

There Is A Season

Just like it's fun to move the furniture around in your living room, I also find it fun to change things up here on the blog.  I usually try to introduce a new photo header monthly and with that I'll sometimes change the colors too.

But it's been at least a year since I've messed around with the layout and template pages.  It's kind of fun to play with the fonts and layouts, so if you hit the blog yesterday and wondered what the hell was going on...Well, there you have it @;)

Messing around with my own blog got me to thinking about folks who've said "Goodbye" to the blog-o-sphere this year.  Many of us hung out with Jane over at Hard Work Homestead who said goodbye last week.  This past Summer, Laurie and Odell over at Semi True Tales of Our Life On The Road hung it up too. 

Gosh, I'll miss both of these wonderful bloggers.

I have at least a dozen blogs on my blog list that haven't posted in over a month.  Is this how it starts? 

We've all had times were we didn't have much to say about our lives.  Or we go through hiccups where illness or family issues keeps us away from our blogs.

To everything there is a Season and a Time for every purpose under Heaven.

I have that in needlepoint hanging on my wall beside my front door.  (Thanks Mom!)  It's a nice daily reminder that change is coming.  You don't know when it will happen but it will happen.  That's life!

So is it my season yet?  No...I think I've still got things to say.  Granted, it might not be inspirational writing by any means but since I consider this blog a diary of sorts, I expect I'll still be writing in 2013.

I haven't thought of quitting yet.  If I'm away from the blog for a few days, I actually miss it.  I miss the discipline of writing.  The connection of placing my thoughts into words on the page.  (Hey, some people like crosswords puzzles.  Me?  I like to write.)

This all started off as a garden blog and while I do still like to write about the garden, I've noticed this year that I've written mostly about conversations that SM and I have had.  Looking back on them, it's been kinda fun to document what we're talking about.

How about you?  Have you thought of hanging it up?  How long have you been blogging?  Is it more of a chore now than it used to be?  How has your blogging changed?

Sucked In

Last week I worked up a really nice patient (lets call him Danny) and his wife.  Danny is a good ole country boy, respectful and sharp, dressed in camo, his wife is equally sweet, with both of them "Yes, Ma'm-ing" me. 

(I guess I've reached the age that being "Ma'm-ed" doesn't bother me so much anymore @;) 

Danny and his wife own a gun and hunting shop out a-ways from Charlotte.

Anyway, I saw them again after Dr. M had finished them up and they were all standing out in the hallway talking about The Robertson's and West Monroe, LA.  (Huh?)

Dr.  M was thrilled to find out that Danny was from West Monroe and actually knew the Robertson's. 

She pulled me over..."They know the Robertson's!"  She said to me, thrilled, a great big smile on her face.

"Who?" I'm asking, confused.

"Haven't you ever seen Duck Dynasty?"  Dr. M asked me.  She's pulling out her cell phone.

"What?"  I ask.

"Nice family."  Danny says.  "They really are just like you see them on the show."

Dr. M is flipping through her phone.  "Here."  She says to me, handing me her cellphone. 

"That's Uncle Si from the Christmas Special they just aired."  She points at her phone.  "I just love this picture."



(Holy Shit...I thought)

"You've got to watch this show.  It's on A&E.  I know your sense of humor."  Dr. M points out.  "You'll love it."

I'll admit I was intrigued, so I set the DVR to tape the shows.  It took me a few episodes to "get it" but these boys had me laughing in no time. 

SM wanders in.  "Whatcha watching?"  He asks.

"This is the show Dr. M recommended."  I told him.  SM has since been sucked in, too.  Last night we watched an episode that had him laughing so hard I thought he was going to pass out.

Is it staged?  Sure it is.  Heck everything is these days.  But Duck Dynasty has it's own special charm.  SM and I grew up with folks who would fit right in with this clan.



Give it a spin if you've never seen it.  It's a two thumbs up from us here at 500 Dollar Tomato.

Wordless Wednesday - If Only It Was Snow

 

Christmas Cheer

I'm sure the next few days will be as busy for you as it will be for us, so I'll be taking a few days off from the blog.  Never fear though.  I'll be back next week for our Year in Review post.




Until then, SM and I would like to take a moment to wish Ya'll a very Merry Christmas. 

Holiday blessings to all!

All I Want For Christmas? How About A Box Of Kleenex!

"Don't kiss me!"  I warned SM yesterday morning.  "I'm sick!" I say presenting him my cheek instead.

"Your annual Christmas cold?"  SM inquires sympathetically, opting to avoid my facial region completely and instead heading south to give my buns a "Good Morning" pat.

"Yeah...I guess!"  I reply congested, reaching around him and grabbing at the box of Kleenex on the kitchen counter. 

"Ahhhh  Chooo." 

Seriously folks, is there anything better in life than a really good sneeze?

I went to work Wednesday morning with a killer sore throat, itchy eyes and a general feeling of DOOM that had little to do with the upcoming apocalypse.

"Try some Airborne."  My Dr. Boss suggested stepping backwards about a foot.  "I had the same symptoms earlier this week and felt better after a day or two on the Airborne."  (At least I know who I got the cold from!!! Geez!)

So I ran out to the pharmacy at lunchtime and picked up a bottle.





I've never tried this stuff but took the supplements as directed and actually felt better Thursday morning.  By Friday morning though, I knew I was screwed.

So I suffered through as best I could at work yesterday and late in the afternoon got a call from SM.

"Hey, I'm here at Walmart.  You busy?"  His phone connection was pretty bad.

"Actually, yes!"  I said annoyed that he was bugging me at work.  I was up to my eyeballs trying to get crap done before taking next week off.  "You got the list?"  I asked.  "Do the best you can...Bye" and hung up.

On the drive home though, I started to feel bad.  I knew that SM went shopping cause he knew that I hated crowds and since I was sick, probably wanted to take that load off my shoulders.

So I apologized to him for being so snappish on the phone as I helped him unload the groceries.

"It's OK.  I knew you weren't feeling good."  He said with a shrug.  "If I forgot anything, you can always go another day."

Looking around I noticed that he didn't buy any more Kleenex.  "Didn't I put Kleenex on the list?"  I ask, voice pitching higher than usual.

"Uh....I didn't see it?"  SM breaks the news.

"Well, crap!"  I say exasperated.  "The one thing I really do need."

"You want me to go back out?"  SM offers  (What a nice guy!)

"Nah.  I've got enough to last me the night and if not, there's always toilet paper."

Nice Knowing Ya

"Well, you got any big plans for the end of the world tomorrow?"  SM asked me this morning.

"As if..."  I rolled my eyes.  "What a crock!  Poor Mayan dude just ran out of room on his stone.  Maybe he just got tired!  Arthritis could've kicked in. Hey, sometimes even I've got writers block."  I said shaking my head,

"I can't believe this is the same lady who was writing the dates on tin cans of food back on Y2K?"  SM says eyebrows up to his hairline. 

"Believe it!"  I said firmly.  "The only exciting thing happening around here is same ol, same ol.  Sorry baby...you ain't getting out of this marriage that easily."  I said grinning.

But just in case I'm wrong...




...it was nice knowing ya! 

(Look at the bright side.  If the world really DOES end tomorrow, at least we won't have to try to come up with something to say for this weekends posts  @:)

My Cutting Garden

It's natural I suppose that after a grey, rainy weekend filled with enough sadness and introspection about how nutty the world has become...Well, my inner optimist needs to run away and dream a little dream. 

And I ain't dreaming of a White Christmas.  Nope, not really in the mood.  I'm dreaming of my future cutting garden.  Oh yeah.  Now THAT I can wrap my head around. 

Funny, how I don't call it a flower garden.  Technically that's what is, but the term "cutting garden" has just got stuck in my head so that's the terminology I'm sticking with.





I placed my order with Baker Creek last week and even though the seeds I purchased won't be in the ground for another 4 months, I'm already considering how I want this to go down.





Do I want to scatter the flowers around the entire garden mingling veggies with flowers?  Or do I want to dedicate one of the raised beds to nothing but flowers.  Do I want a willy-nilly everything goes kind of garden?  Or do I want a formal separation of church and state?





Some of these are bush flowers.  Others, like sunflowers can stand alone.  Some are tall, some short.  Mostly annuals (that will hopefully reseed) along with a few perennials.  Since we have such a long growing season here, I plan on direct sowing.  The bunnies are voracious around here though so I need to keep them protected within the garden area.  I might consider building another raised bed in a different part of the yard though... 





Yikes!  So much to consider.  I really need your input, then.  Those of you who have flower gardens speak up, please!

Lets consider what I purchased.

Asters
Baby's Breath
Cockscomb
Carnation
Hollyhock
Sunflowers
Button-box and Giant Zinnias

I already have Marigold seed from a few years ago.  (Marigold is a staple in my garden.)  And I have a few Hollyhocks growing beside the house.  They love it here so I know they're easy to grow.  I had started Sunflowers outside the garden one year and the freaking bunnies mowed them down.  Then I grew a few in the garden, easy peasy.





So suggestions?  Any issues with watering?  Veggie compatibility?  I'm leaning towards keeping the veggies and flowers separated.  Easier to pull spent plants and start new ones.

What chya'll think?  @;)

In The Wee Hours...

We found you in the darkness of a late Summer night.

We lost you in the wee hours of an early Winter morning.

Rest In Peace, Sweet Kiki. 

Everyone

I went out into the soft, damp darkness this morning and went for a long, long walk with the dogs.

And cried.

Dogs are nice that way.  You can have a conversation with God, one on one and ask him all the tough questions. 

But when you need a moment, just to yourself to come to grips, the dogs are there.  You're not alone.  And that's a nice kind of comfort.

I'm a silent crier for the most part, but they knew. 

Walking in the dark, snotty nosed, sniffling and wiping tears off my face with my jacket sleeve.  They knew. 

Somehow.  

Casey in particular walked closer to me for a few minutes during the worst of it.

And when we got home and I bent down to take off their collars, they cleaned my face with puppy kisses.

It'll hit me on and off today, I know it will.  But SM will be here to give me a hug when I need it, and I can snuggle with the pups as needed.

Take what comfort you can today.

And may God bless us...everyone.

Wordless Wednesday - The Old Man And The Wee

"Coook Keey"

Since SM likes to watch his figure and I no longer do gluten, it isn't very often that cookies are baked around here. 

But Christmas time is different and both SM and the ladies at work have been yammering on about my lack of homemade goodies lately. 

So Sunday morning found me baking double batches of Oatmeal Craisins and Walnut Chocolate Chip cookies.  I also made a single batch of Snowballs for SM.

(Am I the only one who likes to mix things in the sink?  Less mess and my arms are stretched out better for mixing.)

Just so ya know...The recipe for the absolute best oatmeal cookie you will ever eat in life is on the inside of the lid of a Quaker Oats package. 

I find regular old raisins to be boring so I always use dried cranberries.  Everyone, and I do mean everyone, thinks that I'm the most brilliant cookie baker on the planet when I feed them these cookies. 

"Hey, anyone can do it, just buy Quaker Oats."

I like to use the "old fashioned" oats and to make them super chewy, use the darkest brown sugar you can buy.  This makes for a chewy Chocolate Chip cookie too.  I also discovered that using cake flour makes a difference.  Don't ask me why.  Ask Alton Brown.

I also discovered that It's Official!  I'm Old!  I can't read recipes without my reading glasses on.  (Why do they make the type so friggin small?)

So 4 hours later I am up to my eyeballs in cookies.  Most will go to friends and coworkers.

If I can get them past my resident cookie monster that is...





"Coook Keey..."

The Fiscal Cliff Explained

SM came across this this morning.  Good for a chuckle.

I'm Dreaming Of Next Years Garden

Yesterday afternoon was sunshine warm and 70 on our back porch, so I pulled on some shorts, grabbed the Baker Creek catalog and sat on the swing and dreamed of next year's garden.

As I flipped through the pages, I dreamed of pole beans and summer squash, of red ripe tomatoes and abundant strawberries.  I envisioned apples on my 4 year old trees.  I dreamed of rich, brown soil free of weeds. 

And I dreamed of flowers.

When I place my order this year it won't only be for the veggies that will grace my plate.  It will also be for the flowers that I hope to grow, cut and have scattered around in bright bouquets inside my house.  Perhaps a small vase of flowers on my desk at work too.

I glance down at the little potted pansy that I keep protected from frost on my back porch. 

It's bright colors are such a contrast to the gray and brown winter world of my dormant backyard.  It's a promise of Spring that will bring me comfort during the dark days ahead.

Until I get my brightly colored seed packets in the mail that is. 

Then I can spread those out on the kitchen table and dream some more.

Old Ornaments

I finally finished trimming our tree this week. 

SM and I had stopped by Pier One and picked up a few more old fashioned glass ornaments like the one you see in the header picture.  They have a nice selection of old glass and fun novelty ornaments. 

(I bought an ornament for each of my immediate co-workers.  I got into this habit a few years ago.  It's a nice, inexpensive was to wish your friends a Merry Christmas.  Heather got a pink pig with blue spots on it.  Teri got a goofy reindeer, wrapped in a scarf and Mary got a burgundy and purple jewel crusted butterfly.)

But my favorite ornament on our tree is this one.

Believe it or not, this tiny little plastic ornament is at least as old as I am.  I remember this little guy being on our tree when I was a kid.  It has a little sliver spinner inside it.  If you place it over a light bulb the spinner spins from the updraft of heat of the bulb.

I used to watch this little guy for hours when I was a kid.

Still do.

It's nice that so many of our ornaments have special meaning and memories attached to them.  Hand-me-downs from childhood, gifts from friends and co-workers and even silly vacation ornaments all have a place on our tree.  That's what makes it special, I guess.  Remembering where each one came from.

What are some of your favorite ornaments?

Southern Weather, Sudden Options

This morning I walked out in my bare feet to take some trash out. 

I walked across the front yard feeling the coolness of the earth, the roughness of the grass and the damp.  I hoped I wouldn't step on a stray slug or random patch of dog poo.  Both were distinct possibilities.

Looking up, it's cloudy.  No stars at all but just a hint of moisture in the air.  We've been so dry here that any moisture is welcome. 

I wondered when was the last time I walked barefoot in the grass.  This is usually the time of year for socks at the very least and I'm sure I'll be sliding some on once I get back in the house.

Maybe it's because my feet were in contact with the earth but my thoughts turn to the garden and the yard.  There's lots to be done around here and with the weather so mild I start to consider my options.  (Have I mentioned lately how much I love living in the South?)

There's weeding to be done, but I'd really like to not have to yank weeds out of concrete so maybe that task can wait.  I need to expand the backyard "natural" area and lay some pine bark  mulch down.  Plus the garden really needs some good compost tossed in.  Need to consider fencing/trellis options as I'd like to grow more vertical too.  Any and all of these tasks can be done now with the weather as mild as it is.  I'm lucky that I don't have to wait until March or April to start working the ground like some of Ya'll.

I'm considering these options because for the first time EVER, I have a week off between Christmas and New Years.  (Well, I do have to work on Dec 28th but big whoop.) 

With both holidays falling on a Monday and Tuesday, that makes for an extended weekend of time off for a lot of folks.  My company has also notified us (last minute) that they are capping the amount of PTO hours that we can roll over into the new year.  (Don't you just love how companies make decisions like that with less than 30 days to accomplish them in?  Sounds like the government...(snicker)) 

So half of us have to take some time off between now and Dec 31st and the other half gets stuck at work.  Ha.

Anyhow, I said to SM the other day that I've essentially got 2 weeks off at the end of the year.  SM's business slows down during the holidays too.

"So I was thinking.  Do you want to get away?  Spend Christmas on a trip somewhere?"  My voice pitching higher in skepticism.

"Where would we go?"  SM tosses back at me. 

"I don't know.  DC.  We could go to the Smithsonian.  We haven't been there in 20 years and we could drive there instead of fly."  I offered. 

"Or how about Disney?"  I said warming to the idea.  "We've never been to Disney during the holidays.  That could be kinda cool with the lights and the excitement of the kids."

SM shrugged unconvinced.  SM is a pretty traditional guy.  He likes holidays at home.  It's all about Christmas Mass at midnight and Christmas music on the radio.  Eggnog with rum and good food to eat.

Me?  I could spend Christmas in Hawaii with my toes in the sand and be perfectly happy.  So I hopped online and researched things a bit more. 

No surprise but we've talked ourselves out of Disney.  I've read that Christmas time is their busiest season with long lines and huge crowds.  Plus the expense!  Geez.  $100 just to walk in the door for a day?  I don't know how families do it.

So maybe DC.  Depends on the weather. 

But our fallback option is still pretty nice.   Staycation in my own backyard.  60 degrees and dry with lots of sunshine?  In December? 





There are worse ways to spend some time off.

Lipstick On A Pig

SM and I live in a wonderful 25 year old ranch home that, while built well, is in sad need of a little bit of updating.  Our 1980's decor master bath has been on the list of to-do's around here for over a year. 

Come in and look at all the gold finishes and feel a shiver run up your spine.  Oh Yeah...Break out the big hair, cheesy mustaches and "chica-a-bow-wow" music.

 

It's a time warp in there and not in a good way.  Time to get it together.  (You can see from the pic that I'm having difficulty settling on a wall color, can't you?  Green?  No.  How about the left over blue from the office?  No, too dark.)

SM and I have gone back and forth over whether we wanted to do a total gut job or take what we have and do our best to make it look better.  You know...The "lipstick on a pig" approach.

We live in a world that suggests a total gut job is the best way to go.  HGTV, the holy grail in home remodeling, will have you thinking that your home should not only have granite for your counter tops but also a toilet that, not only has a seat warmer, but it will rinse and wipe your bum for you. 

Perhaps that would be fun but I can still manage that task, Thank You Very Much!  And don't forget that everybody needs a steam shower and towel warmer don't they?

When did it happen that every house needed to look like a magazine cover?  Have the latest gadgets?  

It's sad to think that if I were to try to sell my house today, I'd no doubt hear all kinds of suggestions and "Tisk-tisks".  I'd be advised that the house won't sell "as is".  That I'd need to gut the house, put in hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances and stone everywhere. 

When faced with decisions like these, I always try to remind myself of who I am. 

I am simple. 

I am not rich. 

I live in a nice house and good enough is good enough.  If it's still functional, can I refurbish it and make it more appealing to the eye?

Yes I can.

Do you remember when good enough used to actually be good enough.  When did this change?  When were you considered somehow "less" if you didn't spend top dollar?

We upgraded our kitchen sink and faucet last month.  Spent $500.  I gave in to SM's desire for a nicer faucet, he gave in to my desire for a huge stainless steel sink. 

Thanksgiving day saw me washing the turkey pan and stock pots with ease.  It was a wonderful and smart investment.  I love it.  I can't tell you how much this simple improvement has made working in my kitchen easier.  This same kitchen though has vinyl floors, Formica counters and a mish mash of appliances that do not match.  But it looks nice and it functions well.  What more could a person ask for?

I have high hopes for the bathroom too.  Painting the cabinets and walls, keeping the acrylic molded double basin sinks but replacing the faucets.  New lights and hardware.  Jazz it up with a few accessories.

TaDa!  Guess what?  It's good enough! 

And THAT'S good enough for me!

Master Of My Domain

SM and I have been sharing his desktop computer for about 8 months now.  The old laptop that I'd inherited from Mom ("Hey Mom") was about 9 years old and was moving at the speed of slug. 

So I stopped using it.

Sharing SM's office desktop computer wasn't too bad.  We would jockey for time and my personal rule was that if he wandered within 5 feet of his office, I'd jump up and ask if he needed me up and out and I was gone.  It worked out pretty well but I missed having my own space and also missed having the luxury of taking my laptop outside and sitting on the back porch surfing and enjoying the day.

When the time came to buy, SM wondered if I should consider a tablet.  But I like a laptop.  I like having the keyboard and a wide screen.  This HP is 17" across and the keyboard has nice big key's for my fumbly fingers.  We hooked up a separate mouse though as I'm not that into the touch pad unless I'm outside.  As I mentioned before, this puppy is fast.  I'm LOVING it. 

But what I love the most is that I'm back in my nook.

My nook is my kitchen table.  We have a galley kitchen and the kitchen table sits in a bay window area.  Windows all around with a southern exposure.  Lots of sun which is great in the winter, plus I can see everything that's going on inside and out. 

It got me to thinking though, "Why the kitchen?"  Out of every room in the house, why is this the place that I like hang out in?  Which then got me to thinking that SM and I really have this house broken into personal spaces.  His and Hers.  This belongs to me.  My domain.

My favorite places are on the east side of the house.  The old dining room which I converted into the "Dog-TV" room where I have an old couch that the dogs lay on and I can watch my TV shows.  You know, the stuff that annoys the crap out of a man like "The Real Housewives." 

Then there's the kitchen and nook where I'm sitting now.  I spend most of my inside time here in these two rooms.  I suppose that the laundry room and pantry are mine too.  My other favorite place is in the backyard and porch, of course.

SM occupies the central area of the house.  The main living room is his, with his big screen TV and comfy sofa and recliners.  I wander in there from time to time if he's watching a show I'm interested in.  Mostly he watches stuff that annoys the crap out of a girl like sports, cartoons and military-history stuff.  Then there's his office and spare room which is jammed packed with all his business crap.  Oh.  Let's not forget the garage.  If I didn't need to go out there for stuff in the freezers, I wouldn't bother.

That just leaves the master bed and bath, which we share of course.  And the spare bedroom and bathroom which is really neutral territory.

Funny thing is, is that my areas are pretty tidy as I tend to have a more organized personality.  SM's area are a cluttered, disorganized mess.  Any attempts I make to straighten things up are temporary at best.  If things get really bad, I usually give a warning shot over SM's head. 

"Deal with it or I will" is the threat that I'll toss out there when I just can't take it anymore.

Sometimes he "deals with it" but most times he doesn't.  I started to wonder if he was doing this on purpose, but I don't think so.  His brain just doesn't work that way. 

So I threaten again just before action is taken and then it's "Game On."  Your ass is mine. 

I've learned though to  only tackle his messes while SM is still in the house.  I made the mistake once of gutting the garage while he was out of town at a weekend convention.  I pulled everything out and put it all back in a way that made perfect sense to me.  SM couldn't find a thing after that and complained about it for months.  Learned MY lesson after that.  Never mess with his messes unless he's there to observe.

So I'm back in my nook and I'm happy as a clam about it.

Does it work this way at your house?

Still Here...

You might think I've been bitten by the "no blogging bug" that's been going around since there's been no posts this week.

Nah.

I've got things to say.  Just been to busy (distracted?) to blog.  So what's been going on lately?

Well, last weekend SM and I worked on the master bathroom.  More on that with an upcoming post.  Let's just say that it was a sun-up to sunset job that left me satisfied with what we'd accomplished at the end of the day but much too tired to do anything else like post about it.

Then Monday, Santa arrived early to gift me with a (long desired) new laptop.  WooHoo!  SM was over the moon with the new technology.  Santa dropped it in my lap about 8pm, though.  I sat there blinking with exhaustion while SM tried to show me the ropes with Windows 8 (sorry Bob, can't afford a MAC).  Let's just say that I went to bed while SM stayed up late playing with the new toy.  I'm looking forward to playing with it myself this weekend.  I only managed 15 minutes with it here and there this whole week.  I can say one thing.  Holy Crap is this sucker FAST.  My old hand-me-down was slow as sugar.  Took forever to do anything.

What else?  Well, work has been insane but that's nothing new.  Our busy season starts at the end of the year and runs until Summer. Who knows why, but in the 13 years I've been with this practice, that seems to be how we roll.  12 hour days tend to leave me nodding in my recliner by 8pm.  Add to that, holiday shopping traffic on the drive home and the work week just sucks lately.  Even SM complained how tied up Charlotte traffic has become.

Another thing is that I'm back to not sleeping well again.  Maybe getting 3 or 4 hours of good sleep a night.  I'm trying but I end up just tossing and turning and dozing and getting up to watch late night TV just to distract myself.  SM suggests a sleeping pill but I hate how those things make me feel the next day, so I've just been powering through.  (Shrug...what else is new?) 

I've noticed that my hot flashes up and disappeared the past week, (someone turned off the tap?) but now I'm not sleeping.  On the other hand, I haven't had a migraine since the flashes stopped.  (If it ain't one thing, it's another.  Gotta love menopause...)

Kiki, our 14 (going on 15) year old cat had a rough couple of days this week.  He didn't eat much, and just seemed really lethargic and curled up in a "Do not disturb me" little ball.  I was concerned that the end was near.  SM and I would scratch and pet him, but you could tell he wasn't feeling good.  He snapped out of it a few days later and is back to purring and seeking SM out for some "lay on your belly" love. 

That's about all I can think to tell you.  I'm looking forward to this weekend for sure!  Sunshine (which I haven't seen) and warm temps are forecast.  65 glorious degrees!  I'm hoping for some back porch swing time.  Maybe the sun will make me sleepy and I'll get an afternoon nap in.

Wouldn't that be lovely?